It is already the most talked-about duel of the Festival but the trainers of
Simonsig and Overturn are cranking up anticipation of the Racing Post Arkle
Trophy, a week today, with the unswerving confidence of boxers before a big
fight.

Donald McCain has suggested the price of Overturn is insulting and insisted
that Simonsig “would not have beaten him in the Champion Hurdle”. Yesterday,
it was the turn of Nicky Henderson again, describing a gallop by Simonsig as
“simply fantastic”.

The exercise did not start auspiciously, though, as for the second successive
day Henderson was thwarted in his plans to